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$55+ Cheap flights from Washington, D.C. (WAS) to Des Moines (DSM)

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 3/17. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
WAS — DSM
Feb 25 — Mar 41
Tue 2/25
Tue 3/4
1 adult, Economy
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The best prices from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines are usually found in September or August, booked 51 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Saturday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Washington, D.C. (WAS) to Des Moines (DSM). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated February 20, 2025.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$135
(Booking.com)

One-way from

$75
(Frontier)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$438

Good round-trip deal

$387 or less

Good one-way deal

$196 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for Washington, D.C. (WAS)-Des Moines flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Washington, D.C. (WAS)-Des Moines flights.
Search Deals
From Washington, D.C. (WAS) to Des Moines
Search Deals
One-way flight from Washington, D.C. (WAS) to Des Moines
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 9% potential increase in price ($43 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($8 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in February 2025
Search Deals
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Washington, D.C. (WAS) to Des Moines.
Search Deals
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Washington, D.C. (WAS) to Des Moines.
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Find flight deals from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines

Cheapest flights from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on February 20, 2025.

This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/18. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 3/178:21 amBWI - DSM
1 stop10h 36mFrontier
Sat 3/227:57 pmDSM - BWI
1 stop10h 24mFrontier
Deal found 2/18$126
This Booking.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Booking.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 3/281:03 pmDCA - DSM
1 stop7h 14mFrontier
Sun 3/308:35 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop14h 28mFrontier
Deal found 2/19$180
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 3/910:11 amDCA - DSM
Nonstop3h 08mAmerican Airlines
Tue 3/181:00 pmDSM - DCA
Nonstop2h 24mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 2/19$253
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 4/36:00 amIAD - DSM
1 stop5h 37mDelta
Sun 4/65:00 pmDSM - IAD
1 stop5h 00mDelta
Deal found 2/20$263
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 3/159:51 pmBWI - DSM
1 stop11h 21mMultiple Airlines
Sat 3/2210:08 amDSM - BWI
2 stops12h 50mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 2/19$272
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 3/89:00 amDCA - DSM
1 stop7h 30mDelta
Mon 3/175:00 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop5h 16mDelta
Deal found 2/19$273
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 5/28:30 amIAD - DSM
2 stops36h 08mMultiple Airlines
Sun 5/46:51 pmDSM - IAD
1 stop21h 50mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 2/20$282
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 4/156:40 amBWI - DSM
1 stop7h 33mAmerican Airlines
Wed 4/167:00 amDSM - BWI
1 stop4h 57mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 2/19$297
This Gotogate deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Gotogate is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 3/811:32 amIAD - DSM
1 stop8h 25mFrontier
Wed 3/126:57 pmDSM - IAD
1 stop20h 57mFrontier
Deal found 2/20$322
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 3/2610:51 amBWI - DSM
1 stop4h 41mUnited Airlines
Fri 3/281:41 pmDSM - BWI
1 stop8h 46mUnited Airlines
Deal found 2/19$332
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 3/152:05 pmBWI - DSM
2 stops10h 05mSouthwest
Tue 3/185:10 pmDSM - BWI
1 stop3h 50mSouthwest
Deal found 2/19$337
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/18. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 5/111:35 amBWI - DSM
1 stop6h 03mDelta
Mon 5/55:00 pmDSM - BWI
1 stop5h 21mDelta
Deal found 2/18$345

Find flights from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines within your budget

Customize your flight search to find flights from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated February 20, 2025.

Fly from

Washington, D.C.

Fly to

Des Moines

Route

Depart

Return

Price

BaltimoreDes Moines

BWI - DSM

BWIDSM

Baltimore/Washington

Mon 3/17

8:21 am-5:57 pm

1 stop10h 36m

Des Moines

Sat 3/22

7:57 pm-7:21 am

1 stop10h 24m

$126

Washington, D.C.Des Moines

DCA - DSM

DCADSM

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Fri 3/28

1:03 pm-7:17 pm

1 stop7h 14m

Des Moines

Sun 3/30

8:35 pm-12:03 pm

1 stop14h 28m

$180

Washington, D.C.Des Moines

DCA - DSM

DCADSM

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Sun 3/9

10:11 am-12:19 pm

Nonstop3h 08m

Des Moines

Tue 3/18

1:00 pm-4:24 pm

Nonstop2h 24m

$253

Washington, D.C.Des Moines

IAD - DSM

IADDSM

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Thu 4/3

6:00 am-10:37 am

1 stop5h 37m

Des Moines

Sun 4/6

5:00 pm-11:00 pm

1 stop5h 00m

$263

BaltimoreDes Moines

BWI - DSM

BWIDSM

Baltimore/Washington

Sat 3/15

9:51 pm-8:12 am

1 stop11h 21m

Des Moines

Sat 3/22

10:08 am-11:58 pm

2 stops12h 50m

$272

Washington, D.C.Des Moines

DCA - DSM

DCADSM

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Sat 3/8

9:00 am-3:30 pm

1 stop7h 30m

Des Moines

Mon 3/17

5:00 pm-11:16 pm

1 stop5h 16m

$273

Washington, D.C.Des Moines

IAD - DSM

IADDSM

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Fri 5/2

8:30 am-7:38 pm

2 stops36h 08m

Des Moines

Sun 5/4

6:51 pm-5:41 pm

1 stop21h 50m

$282

BaltimoreDes Moines

BWI - DSM

BWIDSM

Baltimore/Washington

Tue 4/15

6:40 am-1:13 pm

1 stop7h 33m

Des Moines

Wed 4/16

7:00 am-12:57 pm

1 stop4h 57m

$297

Washington, D.C.Des Moines

IAD - DSM

IADDSM

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Sat 3/8

11:32 am-6:57 pm

1 stop8h 25m

Des Moines

Wed 3/12

6:57 pm-4:54 pm

1 stop20h 57m

$322

BaltimoreDes Moines

BWI - DSM

BWIDSM

Baltimore/Washington

Wed 3/26

10:51 am-2:32 pm

1 stop4h 41m

Des Moines

Fri 3/28

1:41 pm-11:27 pm

1 stop8h 46m

$332

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 2/18

Showing 1-10 of 33 results
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Compare providers for flights from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines

Provider information is updated monthly. Please note that these providers often have deals for this flight, but the availability may vary on a day-by-day basis on Cheapflights.
Use the table below to compare price accuracy, trust ratings, and cancellation policies for each provider offering flight deals from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines in February.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars

*The Trust Score is based on feedback from users after their booking experience. It measures overall satisfaction, helping us identify issues like hidden fees, problems during the ticketing process, and the quality of customer service. This score is our best indicator of the provider's quality and reliability.

  • Most accurate provider: When it comes to deals on Washington, D.C.-Des Moines flights, users find the pricing of FlightHub to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub Users can find the same prices on Washington, D.C.-Des Moines flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Washington, D.C.-Des Moines flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Washington, D.C.-Des Moines flights, Cheapflights users trust FlightHub the most. FlightHub has received a user feedback score of 3 out of 3 stars (3 being the best), meaning they have been trusted the most by Cheapflights users looking for Washington, D.C.-Des Moines flight deals. Provider user feedback score is based on Cheapflights searches over the past month and is updated monthly.

Best time to book a flight from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Des Moines from Washington, D.C. with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Travel insights for flights from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines

Get recent, data-driven insights about flights from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines including ideal travel times, pricing trends, and more.

How far ahead should I book a flight from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines. Price data was last updated on February 14, 2025.

The best time to book flights from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines is 51 days before your desired departure date. The cost of your flight will likely increase significantly if you book two weeks in advance of your flight.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines?

Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines (average of $336). Flying from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines in June is currently the most expensive (average of $422). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from WAS to DSM?

Find hourly flight availability from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated February 20, 2025.

One of the essential ways to save on airfare from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines is to remain as flexible as possible. Flights that are at noon tend to be the most expensive. A flight in the afternoon could potentially save you up to 3% on airfare.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines. Price data was last updated on December 16, 2024.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Washington, D.C. to Des Moines flight should consider departing on Monday at noon when fares are most often at their lowest. Sunday afternoons flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Weekly flight availability from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines

Explore weekly flight availability from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines. Discover flights operating on different days of the week, giving you the flexibility to choose a travel day that best fits your plans. Compare info to find the most convenient option for your journey. Data last updated February 20, 2025.

The most flights from WAS to DSM are scheduled on a Monday (3 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Saturday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (2 on average).

Rainfall in Des Moines by month

Plan your trip to Des Moines by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in Des Moines ranges from 1.0 - 4.9 inches per month. June is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 4.9 in. January is typically the driest time to visit Des Moines when rainfall is around 1.0 in.

Temperature in Des Moines by month

Plan your trip to Des Moines by taking into account the average temperature totals by month.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Des Moines, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, July is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 77.0 F. Travelers looking to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 23.0 F).

Reviews of airlines servicing Des Moines

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Des Moines. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Des Moines. Reviews last updated February 20, 2025.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Southwest, Delta and United Airlines from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines. In addition to providing an overall rating, users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Food

7.1

Crew

8.7

Entertainment

7.6

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20

2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Feb 2025

MCO - STL

Cancelled at last minute, SWA unable to assist in formulating alternate plans. Wound up renting a car and driving 13 hours to beat bad weather forecast at home. Not SWA’s fault that there was significant bad weather across the country.

Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Food

7.1

Crew

8.7

Entertainment

7.6

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20

2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Feb 2025

MCO - STL

Cancelled at last minute, SWA unable to assist in formulating alternate plans. Wound up renting a car and driving 13 hours to beat bad weather forecast at home. Not SWA’s fault that there was significant bad weather across the country.

Delta
8.0
Very good
8,219 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Food

7.1

Crew

8.7

Entertainment

7.6

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20

2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Feb 2025

MCO - STL

Cancelled at last minute, SWA unable to assist in formulating alternate plans. Wound up renting a car and driving 13 hours to beat bad weather forecast at home. Not SWA’s fault that there was significant bad weather across the country.

United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,765 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Food

7.1

Crew

8.7

Entertainment

7.6

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20

2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Feb 2025

MCO - STL

Cancelled at last minute, SWA unable to assist in formulating alternate plans. Wound up renting a car and driving 13 hours to beat bad weather forecast at home. Not SWA’s fault that there was significant bad weather across the country.

Allegiant Air
7.3
Good
765 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Food

7.1

Crew

8.7

Entertainment

7.6

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20

2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Feb 2025

MCO - STL

Cancelled at last minute, SWA unable to assist in formulating alternate plans. Wound up renting a car and driving 13 hours to beat bad weather forecast at home. Not SWA’s fault that there was significant bad weather across the country.

American Airlines
7.2
Good
10,000 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Food

7.1

Crew

8.7

Entertainment

7.6

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20

2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Feb 2025

MCO - STL

Cancelled at last minute, SWA unable to assist in formulating alternate plans. Wound up renting a car and driving 13 hours to beat bad weather forecast at home. Not SWA’s fault that there was significant bad weather across the country.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • What airport do you fly into for flights to Des Moines from Washington, D.C.?

    Des Moines (DSM) is the airport you will fly into if you book a flight from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines. You should not have trouble finding flights to Des Moines from Washington, D.C.; the airport handles an average of 2 inbound flights from Washington, D.C. per day. You should also have plenty of airline options to choose from since 5 airlines have flights to the Des Moines airport from Washington, D.C.. It is only a 3.6 mi journey from Des Moines (DSM) to Des Moines’s city center.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines round-trip?

    Flying on Frontier is currently your cheapest option to Des Moines, with prices starting at $135. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by American Airlines and Delta, with the lowest prices starting at $253 and $273, respectively. Frontier is 69% cheaper than the average price of flights available within the next 90 days to this destination.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines one-way?

    The cheapest airline one-way is Frontier, with whom users have recently found tickets for as low as $75. However, be on the lookout for offers from Delta and American Airlines, as they are both options that can get you from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines for a low price.

  • What are the most popular routes from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines?

    When deciding which route to take from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines consider Washington, D.C. Reagan-National - Des Moines, Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl - Des Moines or Baltimore/Washington - Des Moines as they are the most popular.

  • Can I find deals for flights from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on Washington, D.C. to Des Moines flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines?

    Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines (average of $336). Flying from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines in June is currently the most expensive (average of $422). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

Traveling to a place near Washington, D.C.?

Book flights to Washington, D.C. if you plan to visit one of these locations
Ames
Altoona
Johnston
Boone
West Des Moines

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Top 5 airlines flying from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines

Discover the top 5 airlines that operate flights from Washington, D.C. to Des Moines. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated February 20, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$132Average$268FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
DeltaCheapest$277Average$430FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
American AirlinesCheapest$281Average$449FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$291Average$511FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
SouthwestCheapest$386Average$431FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
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